The holiday season is often hectic and stressed, filled with shopping, baking, decorating, celebrating with family and friends, and trying to wrap up one year and get ready for the next. It can also be a time of reflection, to look back at the year past and find gratitude for the blessings we have received and think about ways we can share our good fortune with others. Take a moment to appreciate the past and look forward with hope to the new year ahead. In the spirit of the holiday season, the Editorial Staff of the Desert Purchaser, Terry Spence, Pete Petersen, Pancho Hernandez and Anita DeMarco, would like to take this opportunity to wish all of the NAPM-SA members and their families a Merry Christmas and a happy, prosperous New Year.

By Scott Oldendorph, C.P.M.

Back by popular demand after a 3 year sabbatical from visiting NAPM-SA; Tucson's own local political cartoonist, satirist, and stand-up comic, D.W. "Fitz" Fitzsimmons is coming to tickle your funny bone on December 9^th at 7:00pm exclusively at the Doubletree Hotel. For our new members here is a recap of Fitz's last performance. NAPM-SA members were left light headed, with sore throats, weak knees, sliding off chairs, teary eyes, and bad cases of hyperventilation. These are the physical conditions you will experience when you have uncontrolled laughter over the side splitting jokes and caricatures. Maybe the joke and the drawing will be of you to take home autographed by Fitz himself.

You all have seen Fitz's political cartoons in the Arizona Daily Star Newspaper since 1986 and his political cartoons made him a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 1988. If events happen at NAPM-SA, locally in Tucson, Pima county, Arizona, United States, the world or outer space, Fitz's sharp and witty pencil and mind are there to dissect, satirically capture and illustrate a side of humor only Fitz could think of or create. With politics, the environment, both locally and nationally, richly provided for us this past year, Fitz will show no mercy to the deserving and non-deserving.

Fitz has been the winner of countless local and regional cartooning awards. He has been the opening act for the political comedian Mark Russell, a regular guest at Tucson's Laffs Comedy Club, a headliner at Tucson's annual Press Club Gridiron show, a member of the Sweatlodge Comedy Troupe, even president of the Tucson Press Club.

If you need to lighten up after a stressful year, need someplace distasteful to take your spouse, special someone or even your boss, this is the evening of evenings to be entertained by a flaming moderate with a twisted viewpoint of reality and a truly snappy dresser.

Name ______________________________________________

Company _____________________________# Attending_______

Phone #____________________________________________________

Preferred
Entree(s) ___________________________________________

Come, learn what you need to know in one of the most successful C.P.M. workshops. Ed has taught over 2000 with an 80% success rate.

Limited to 25 participants.

Special rates for
N.A.P.M. members

Call Ralph Long at (520) 206-4759
Or Ed Cocca at (602) 996-4665
For additional information.

  By Ralph L. Long, C.P.M
Since the first NAPM Satellite Seminar in June 1995, NAPM-SA has participated in every seminar offered. I hope you have been one of the members that has taken advantage of this outstanding program. This is truly one of the significant benefits provided by NAPM. Each topic is on the leading edge of our profession and the panels are composed of real working experts in the subject area. The topics this year will be held on the following dates:

September 24, 1998
Electronic Commerce: Integration Into the Enterprise The Supply Chain
November 5, 1998
Project Management for Supply Management Professional
February 4, 1999
Roadmap to Effective Supplier Relationships
April 8, 1999
Strategy Cost Management: Understanding Cost Price Analysis Tools
June 3, 1999
Legal Perspectives Protecting Your Organization by Understanding Rights, Responsibilities and Obligations

What an outstanding line-up of educational programs for the professional purchasing or supply management individual.

Another benefit of this program is that each of the satellite programs is recorded and the video topics are available for your professional development programs. Contact Pete Petersen at 648-8598 to arrange the loan of the video topics. The following is a list of past programs:

June 15, 1995
NAPM—The Procurement Card
November 11, 1995
Using Information Technology in Purchasing
March 28, 1996
Benchmarking Purchasing Performance
May 22, 1996
Procurement Card '96 – Beyond the Basics
November 7, 1996
Purchasing Performance Measures—Effective Measures for Improvement
February 6, 1997
Supplier Performance—Working Toward Reliability and Continuous Improvement
April 4, 1997
Managing Change in Purchasing Supplies—Challenging Environment
June 12, 1997
Electronic Commerce—Integrating New Technologies Into The Purchasing Process
October 30, 1997
Moving Toward Strategies Purchasing—Developing New Skill Sets
February 5, 1998
Adding Value Through Effective Outsourcing Strategies and Implementation
April 9, 1998
Supply Chain Management Dynamics—Linking Supplier to End User
June 3, 1998
Building and Managing Sound Contracts Step by Step
September 24, 1998
Electronic Commerce—Integration Into The Enterprise and The Supply Chain

Global Resourses Committee
How do we perceive ourselves culturally? How do we perceive other nationalities? Are there differences? In many cases, the answers will result in differences. Depending on where you were raised, your cultural understanding may be different than a co-worker, which could be entirely different than another nationality. As we deal internationally these differences really become apparent.

Culture is defined as "the customary beliefs, social forms and material traits of a racial, religious or social group". Though we come from different races, heritage and experiences, our American business culture is somewhat homogeneous.

As Americans, we have a tendency to believe in the individual and individuality. We also believe in making quick decisions, putting emphasis on time. This doesn't mean decisions are hasty, but timeliness is important. We also tend to believe in equality as opposed to a hierarchy. We believe we can present an opinion to our boss in a straightforward manner and not be considered being "out of place" or disrespectful.

Americans for the most part are informal. We like to use first names when addressing each other no matter the relative positions in the company. We socialize during business meetings and usually resent someone being too formal by saying they are "stuffy". We also like to say what is on our mind and "cut to the chase". If we believe someone did something incorrectly, we feel we should bring it to his or her attention. We feel we can offer criticism, and still shake hands and get along fine afterwards.

What is all of this leading to? As we deal internationally, we cannot assume that everyone thinks and acts like we do in the business environment. The Asians, for example, are very hierarchical. It is appropriate to address yourself to the lead person in a formal and respectful manner. They can be disturbed by an informal approach. They also believe strongly in saving face. No one is ever criticized in public. The team or group must have consensus before a decision is made.

Latin America and the Middle East are also regions that believe strongly in a hierarchical relationship. They too think that being direct is just being rude. Asians do not respect business people who lose their temper. They expect dignity even during stressful negotiations. Latino, Middle Eastern and Russian business people on the other hand are passionate and emotional. If you don't display some sense of passion, they don't think you are sincere.

Not understanding the culture of the people with whom you are dealing only makes the dealings more difficult. We need to value those differences, which doesn't mean we need to agree with or follow them, but simply that we understand and can accept them at face value. Each of us is different. It is these differences that make us who we are. And it is doubtful that any of us would want it differently. When we interact with each other, we need to be aware that we are different and that there is nothing wrong with that. Those who can accept others as they are and move forward will be successful. Those who dwell on the differences and try to change them will fail.

Reprinted from the January 1998 issue of the Arizona Purchaser, the newsletter of NAPM-Arizona.